A.B.C.D.E.F.G.H.I.J.K.L.M.N.O.P.Q.R.S.T.U.V.W-Z

CABLE YARN -- A yarn made with a cable twist resulting in a strong, regular yarn. (Cable twist is a twist construction with each successive twist in the direction opposite to the preceding twist, e.g., S/Z/S or Z/S/Z.)
Calcite - a mineral composed of calcium carbonate: CaCO3
CAP: A trim tile with a convex radius on one edge. This tile is used for finishing the top of a wainscot or for turning an outside comer.
Cape Amethyst (Amethyst Quartz) - translucent light to medium purple stone with white banding. This is actually a rough form of amethyst layered or striped with milky quartz.
Carnelian (also see Natural Carnelian) - orange to bright red-orange translucent stone. The orange variety frequently has areas of lighter and darker orange, giving it a banded or less uniform look.
CARPET -- The general designation of fabric for soft floor covering, especially that used for the entire floor and fastened to it; for example, wall-to-wall carpet.
CARPET CUSHION -- A term used to describe any kind of material placed under carpet to provide added support for the pile structure. Not only does carpet cushion provide a softer feel underfoot, it provides added acoustical and thermal benefits and longer wear life for the carpet. In some cases the carpet cushion is attached to the carpet when it is manufactured. Also referred to as "lining," "padding," or 11 underlay," although "carpet cushion" is the preferred term. (See CUSHION.)
CARPET SQUARES [TILES] -- Loose lay or self-adhesive backed squares of carpet.
Cast Stone --A highly refined architectural precast concrete building stone manufactured from a mixture of Portland cement, coarse aggregates, and fine aggregates, to simulate natural cut stone.
CAULK: See Sealant.
CAULKING COMPOUND: Waterproof caulking material. See Sealant.
CEMENT: Usually refers to Portland cement which is mixed with sand, gravel and water to form concrete.
CEMENT BODY TILE: Tiles with a structure made from a mixture of sand, gravel and water to form concrete.
CEMENT GROUT: A cementious mixture of Portland cement, sand or other ingredients and water, to produce a water resistant, uniformly colored material used to fill the joints between tile units.
CEMENTIOUS: Having the properties of cement.
CERAMIC MOSAIC TILE: Tile formed by either the dust-pressed or plastic method, usually 1/4 inch thick, and having a facial area of less that six square inches. Ceramic Mosaic tiles may be either porcelain or natural clay composition and they may be either plain or may have an abrasive mixture throughout
CERAMIC TILE: See definition for Tile.
Chain --A stack of quoins.
CHAIN BINDERS -- Yarns running warpwise (lengthwise) in the back of the carpet. As the name implies, they bind all construction yarns together. The chain binder runs alternately over and under the weft binding and filling yarns, thereby pulling the pile yarn down and the stuffer yarns up for a tightly woven construction.
CHALK LINE: Usually a cotton cord coated with chalk. The cord is pulled taut and snapped to mark a straight line. The chalk line is used to align spots or screeds and to align tiles.
Chamfer --Slanted surface which connects two external surfaces forming two arrises.
Chatoyancy - having a changeable luster, like a cat's eye.
CHECK- A lengthwise separation of the wood that usually extends across the rings of annual growth and commonly results from stress set up in wood during air drying or kiln- drying.
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE: The resistance offered by products to physical or chemical reactions as a result of contact with or immersion in various solvents, acids, alkalies, salts, etc.
CHENILLE -- A pile fabric woven by the inserting of a prepared weft row of surface yarn tufts in a "fur" or "caterpillar" form through very fine but strong cotton "catcher" warp yarns, and over a heavy woolen backing yarn. A term also used to denote machine tufted bedspreads (a technical misnomer).
CLEANING METHODS -- (1) Dry Foam - A detergent solution containing only a small amount of water is mechanically worked into the surface of the carpet and the loose soil is removed by a vacuum. (2) Hand Absorption - A detergent solution is generated into a foam which is worked into the pile of the carpet by sponges. The loose soil is removed by absorption into clean sponges. The application of the foam and removal is done by hand. (3) Hot Water Extraction - This method is sometimes called "steam." A solution is forced into the pile at high pressure. The loose soil and a large amount of the solution are immediately vacuumed out. (4) Powder - Absorbent granules containing a dry cleaning fluid and other cleaning agents are sprinkled over the surface of the carpet. This is worked into the carpet pile. Vacuuming removes the granules and attached soil. (5) Rotary Brush -A detergent solution is worked into the pile of the carpet by the bristles of the brush. Some machines are equipped with vacuums to remove the loose soil and solution. This method of cleaning is no better than the operator. Make certain you secure the services of a reliable cleaner.
Clear Quartz (Rock Crystal) - a colorless transparent stone. 
CLEAVAGE MEMBRANES: A membrane that provides a separation and slip sheet between the mortar setting bed and the backing or base surface.
CLINKER (KLINKER): Red body formed by either the extrusion process or dust pressing. Sometimes referred to as red stoneware. This tile can be glazed or unglazed with a water absorption of 0.7%.
Coated Rebar --Rebar coated with a zinc alloy or epoxy. This rebar is normally used when rebar placement is within 1-1/2 inches from an exposed face.
COLD JOINT: Any point in concrete construction where a pour was terminated and the surface lost its plasticity before work was continued.
COLOR, PRIMARY AND COMPLEMENTARY -- Primary colors are the principal colors that make up "white" light. Complementary colors are colors that, when combined, produce a neutral color, or whitish gray, as when orange and blue are combined or mixed. (Primary colors: red, blue, and yellow).
COLOR, UNEVEN -- Uneven color application during dyeing of carpet or yarn
COLORED GROUT: Commercially prepared grout consisting of carefully graded aggregate, Portland cement, water dispersing agents, plasticizers and color fast pigments.
Column --Supporting pillar, usually consisting of a round shaft, a capital and a base.
Column Capital - The top portion of a column. There are three main types; from least ornate to most ornate, they are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian
COMMERCIAL MATCHING -- Matching of colors within acceptable tolerances.
COMMERCIAL PORTLAND CEMENT GROUT: A mixture of Portland cement with other ingredients to produce a water-resistant, dense, uniformly colored material.
COMPACTION: The process whereby the volume of freshly placed mortar or concrete is reduced to the minimum practical space usually by vibration, centrifugation, tamping or some combination of these; to mold it within forms or molds and around imbedded parts and reinforcement and to eliminate voids other than entrained air.
COMPRESSION SET- Caused when wood strips or parquet slats absorb excess moisture and expand so much that the cells along the edges of adjoining pieces in the floor are crushed. This causes them to loose resiliency and creates cracks when the floor returns to its normal moisture content.
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH: A material's ability to withstand a load measured in psi.
CONDUCTIVE MORTAR: A tile mortar to which specific electrical conductivity is imparted through the use of conductive additives.
CONIFEROUS-(See softwoods)
CONSTRUCTION -- Carpet construction is defined by stating the manufacturing method (tufted, woven, etc.), and the final arrangement of materials achieved by following specifications.
CONTROL JOINTS: See Expansion Joints.
COPING: The material, or units used to form a cap or finish on top of a wall, pier, pilaster or chimney. Its function is to protect the wall from the natural elements as well as adding an aesthetic value to the wall.
Cornice --Moulded piece at the top of an entablature projected with an ogee profile at the top leading edge with other relief's below.
CORN ROWING -- Ridges appearing generally in traffic areas running widthwise.
COTTOFORTE: Pink to red body used for most decorated, double-fired tile (glazed).
COUNT -- A number identifying yarn size or weight per unit of length (or length per unit of weight) depending on the spinning system used (such as denier, woolen, worsted, cotton, or jute system).
Course -Horizontal scope of units incorporated in a wall.
COVE: A trim tile unit having one edge with a concave radius. A cove is used to form a junction between the bottom wall course and the floor or to form an inside comer.
COVE BASE (Sanitary): A trim tile having a concave radius on one edge and a convex radius on the opposite edge. This base is used as the only course of tile above the floor tile.
COVER -- Description of how the face yarn covers or hides the back.
CRAB -- A hand device used for stretching carpet in a small area where a power stretcher or knee kicker cannot be used.
Cramp --"U" shaped metal anchors used to attach two abutting units.
CRAWLING: A parting and contraction of the glaze on the surface of ceramic ware during drying or firing, which results in unglazed areas bordered by coalesced glaze.
CRAZING: The cracking that occurs in fired glazes or other ceramic coatings due to critical tensile stresses (minute surface cracks). A series of hairline cracks, normally less than a thirty-second of an inch in depth in the outer surface of a concrete product. Crazing does not normally affect the life of a concrete product.
CREASE MARKS--Crush marks caused by folding
CREEL -- A rack located adjacent to a tufting machine which holds the cones of pile yarn which supply yarn to the needles of a tufting machine.
CRIMPING -- Method of texturizing staple and continuous filament yarn to produce irregular alignment of fibers and increase bulk and covering power; also facilitates interlocking of fibers, which is necessary for spinning staple fibers into yarn.
CROCKING -- Excess coloring matter which rubs off material because of improper penetration or fixation of the dyestuff.
CROOK- The distortion of a board in which there is a deviation, in a direction perpendicular to the edge, from a straight line from end to end of the piece.
CROSSPULL- A condition occurring at an end-joint with the ends of wood flooring strips pulled in opposite directions.
CROSS SEAMS -- Seams made by joining the ends of carpet together.
CROW HOP: Tile Joints that are out of alignment.
CROWNING- A "convex" or "crowned" condition or appearance of individual wood flooring strips, with the center of the strip higher than the edges. (opposite of cupping.)
CRUSH BANDS -- Can be identified by crush marks running widthwise across the carpet. Roll crushing will usually disappear with use.
CRYSTALLINE GLAZE: See under Glaze.
CSI: The Construction Specification Institute.
CTDA: Ceramic Tile Distributors Association.
CTI: Chicago Tile Institute.
CTI: Ceramic Tile Institute.
CUPPING- A "concave" or "dished" appearance of individual wood flooring strips, with the edges raised above the center. (opposite of crowning)
CURE- To change the properties of an adhesive by chemical reaction (which may be
condensation, polymerization, or vulcanization) and thereby develop maximum strength. Generally accomplished by the action of heat or a catalyst, with or without pressure.
CURING: Maintenance of humidity and temperature of the freshly placed mortar or grout during some definite period following the placing or finishing, to assure satisfactory hydration of Portland cement and proper hardening of the mortar or grout.
CUSHION -- Soft, resilient layer provided under carpet to increase underfoot comfort, to absorb pile crushing forces and to reduce impact sound transmission. (Also referred to as underlay or lining.) (See CARPET CUSHION.)
CUSHION-BACK CARPET --Carpet having an attached cushion lining, padding, or underlay material, (An integral part of its backing.)
CUSHION-EDGED TILE: Tile on which the facial edges have a distinct curvature that results in a slightly recessed joint.
CUSTOM FLOORS- Wood floors that are made to order. Complete flexibility is allowed for design, species, grade, etc.
CUSTOM TUFTED -- Carpet or rugs in which pile yarns are manually tufted with hand machines or by narrow width tufting machines.
CUT -- A length of carpet cut from a full roll to fill an order.
Cut Stone --Natural stone quarried and dressed to an architectural shape.